Hi,almost in every topics we discuss about particular technical problems - we can say "bricks" of M-Series programming, which are very important and interesting of course. If you need to prepare simple busk show, knowledge about those elements are enough for successful work.In manual, video tutorials etc. you can find explanation only about basic functionalities separate to each other.

My question is: where we can find some cues, ways, ideas, tips... how to prepare more complicated shows, how to mix every M-Series posibilities together? I mean not how to control many, many fixtures with many, many FX's I mean - how to prepare show based not only on simple manual cue triggering or fader movements /separate to each other/?What is the proper (the best) way of M-Series programming according to software developer's ideas?Example show files included in software setup is too complicated for beginners like me for analysing Simple question:I prepared and work on M-PC with my busking universal show - general it works OK but next step for me is:How to prepare some "stage light scenes" /intro, parts of verses, choruses.../ mixed from many separate basic cues, chasers etc. consisting control parameters - for repeating them the same way during next day show, jump from one scene to another etc. - I mean how create still busking show, but based on higher level "bricks"? How Macros can help in programming?Important: my questions are NOT how to make it technically, NOT about artistic look, but... what is proper (the best) way of perfect show workflow programming according to M-Series developers? What is important? Which functionalities we have use in particular needs? How to prepare M-Series program step by step according to real show structure for best software and hardware usage during light show?Where we can find some ideas? descriptions? examples in the web?

Hi Ofer of course I've studied Zyper's all three tutorials before.This tutorial is great for beginners and made my knowledge and approach to M-PC better and faster! Thanks Zyper But it is typical busking way for using software - it's OK, and I can do it well. Everything happens "online" from previous preapering sets of parameters. It is good approach for music clubs, dance halls etc. where there is no general change of moods, no solo musicians on stage, no necessery to create more creative light, zones on stage etc. like during live bands performings.I'm looking for more sophisticated skills and tips: how I can create and record in Martin software before show "light scenes" for parts of songs with preset chasers, cuelists etc. which I can trigger during the show in particular moments - I mean not kind of static sequence of cues like in theatre, but like during rock shows - but not typical busking way = I want to be more prepared for show, so I need simultaneous turn all lights on, all cuelist should be synchronised and so on.. I think I need kind of intermediate skills and I can't find source of that knowledge...

I'm sure many Martin software users have similar needs like me After you have basic knowledge - you want to be better in programming,you want to use it more creative and more sophisticated way Possibilities included in your software are great! We want to develop our skills, not everything it is easy to discover by ourselves, especially at higher level

Hi Martin team again You've created and still develop great software!You are all very, very helpful and quick in the case of particular asks of Martin users comunity As I mentioned earlier, most questions and answers are about basic /very important of course/ problems. It is interesting to follow all that topics and it is great knowlage base for us. -For sure you've some ideas during creating user interface, functionalities, possibilities, features and so on of Martin software. I'm sure there are many Martin software users /including me/ not familiar with other consoles or classic consoles programming workflow, tips, general rules, the best and fastest way to organise layout for particular needs etc. We experiment, for sure I can say, we very often "open opened doors" It takes time, our effort. Sometimes we are very frustrated because we can't do something for sure obvious for more experienced users. Maybe we make general mistakes of workflow etc. or misunderstand what you wanted to give us in software - which we can't discover by ourselves. For sure even for long time of "separate", individual learing we can't get higher, because possibly we make the same mistakes again, without even knowlage about it I mean - light works OK but maybe workflow, some ideas could be achieved easier, faster, better - according to your ideas included, realised in software Simple example: My work changed positive dramatically and rapidly, when I found post by Paul about Cloning command!In online manual there is not explained great idea of power of this command. Before, around me every light console programmers said the same: new show - you have to program your console from the "zero" clean level. So... the same work again and again before each show /which is not the same but similiar/? Just until I've read Paul's post I understood the power of Clone command in practice! For sure there are many similiar features, tips and knowlage - which is obvious for your team, because you are very experienced users, creators...-Please share your knowlage not only on basic level Martin programming but also more general, still based on great Martin software.I'm sure popularity of Martin software, hardware and consoles will be better and better if you give us this knowlage, which makes our work faster, easier more correct... general better.-Maybe you can share some pdf tutorials, videos, conspectus, drafts, links from workshops or other activieties, some show examples or "anything" which can be helpful to develop our skills not only on basic level of software knowlage but also a little bit higher, from more abstract point of view of creating light show by using Martin software? Example topics:What is proper workflow? How to properly organise user interface for best efficiency? About what take care during creating basic preset and later show preperation? Proper using of banks, subbanks. macros and all other features, functionalities included in software? How to organise the playback buttons, faders, pages? etc. etc. etc.

I support it… I'm a bit new in m-series and in lighting generally. I study the manual support from the Martin site, I studied zyper's videos, and watching the youtube channel of David Henry "learn stage lighting" and his webinars, I'm getting better each day in the technical side of lighting and the software, but I'm missing some pro tips of how to manage your work better, how to take the console to the limit, I admit I'm not the most creative man in the world… so I will be very happy to learn some pro tips on how to manage and create a show from the professionals

There is no such thing as "the best" way of programming. Its is really up to the user how to use the possibilities.

Personally I used zypers tutorials, and made adjustments. If you watch his videos he even mentions that hes always searching for a better solution.

I did the same thing (permanent venue). You program something, you use it, want something different, change it again, and again, and again. At a certain point you have something that works, but you will always would like to improve.

Now every event.or venue is different. So asking for a golden equation for an epic light show is nearly impossible. I can tell you this:

-UI layout-patch-2d plan-groups-2d plan-presets (and I mean, everything!!! Do NOT build cues which are not based on presets)-cues (build all your effects before you start with your playback layout)-playbacks-change ui again if required

Hi -Ad. yarinbsExactly like me I have very similiar experiences! You've listed great resources I'm sure many of us are familiar with those sources.And you write very condensed, clear, important sentences, which describes, what I wanted to say "how to take the console to the limit" "will be very happy to learn some pro tips on how to manage and create a show from the professionals"THIS IS IT -Ad. Sjoerd My experiences in M-Series programming, and I'm sure many of us, are similiar But.. on the oposite side I prepare never the same show, so particular for me it is important how to building an efficient punt pages for busking show - fast and efficient and next to do the most interesting show from builded previous elements.

Of course there is no "the best way of programming" and there is no "one golden equation for an epic light show" - absolutely agree!But there are many "rules of thumb", tips, ideas, "ways" - which were "discovered" or "are used" by more experienced M-Series (and general LDs and console programmers) user. Your very important words according to mine experienses is: "Do NOT build cues which are not based on presets"but it takes more time and there is sometimes optimum half-way Your workflow is exactly the same like me! -On the other point of view: Paul prepared great example show included in M-PC setup files.There are many "connections", "feature's use" inside, which I can't understand, why they were made for - because I have no so sophisticated knowledge about M-Series programming So it is example when resources have sometimes too high level. -I'm sure many of us have read my comments and we have similar experiences and needs Please share your experiences, resources etc. ...

The whole idea of using presets is that a single preset can be used in multiple cues. So when you go towards another venue you only have to clone some fixtures and adjust your presets. . This should be less work than updating all your cues.

Ofcouse venue specific cues are still required and the first time programming will take some time.

Hi Paul,thank for your willingness to help Of course I didn't want do criticise Training Show 2016 file that it is too complicated It should be! You've included sophisticated functionalities, which demonstrate posibilities of software. Only problem is my unadequate basic knowledge.

I'm sure many people are also interesting in understanding how it works and why you've used particular solutions in this file.I'll better start new topic, because this topic is better for overall discussion about sources of knowledge than about particular software aspects.

I encourage M-Series users here to share experiences where to find interesting recources about how to be better and better in lighting programming and like Sjoerd wrote just above - yours experiences, suggestions, explanations

You can't know what you don't know... So a good resource is needed. I will try to set up a wiki on my server explaining what I've learned in my short time of using M-PC. I hope that I will find enough time doing that soon...

Hi Max! It's a very, very clever approach REAL GREAT IDEA!!!I encourage you to do that!I think, our M-Series community may support you step by step and when you start, we can send you our experiences descriptions for publication

Using presets combined with cloning is so nice. For colors I usually have around 10 presets for all the fixtures I work with. I can then pick a group (for example, just washes) , use the grouping tool (Every 2) pick a color preset, click next, pick another color preset and have what I want. Having presets also helps keep my colors consistent. If I have different fixtures and their colors don't match, I just update the presets for each type so that they all look the same. When you clone fixtures, it doesn't matter if they're RGB or CMY they all get cloned. It speeds up programming time by quite a lot.